We are opposed to Assembly bill A10372a

It changes the non-discrimination language we fought so hard for in 2006

It creates an impossibly high standard for approval of autism treatments: "Evidenced-based, clinically-proven and peer-reviewed," which applies to no other health condition under New York law, or the law of any other state. And not even the backers of this bill can tell us what therapies would be covered.

It creates a four-agency review committee that would have to approve any treatments. Treatments for no other disorder are encumbered with such a structure, so this is an inherently discriminatory idea, and this structure gives an advantage to insurance companies with their armies of lobbyists.

If S7000B/A10372A became law it would do the following:

Repeal some of the non-discrimination language we fought so hard for in 2006

Impose an unprecedented extremely high standard that autism treatments will have to meet prior to approval that apply to no other health disorder under New York law, or the law of any other state for that matter. This will probably allow insurers to deny payment for speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy among other treatments.

Force all treatments for autism to be approved by a committee of four state agencies. A bureaucratic hurdle required of treatments for no other disorder.

It will shift costs borne by some insurance companies for early intervention re-imbursement back on the tax payers.

We support A6888 and S6123, legislation that would assure coverage of needed therapy, and treat autism the same as other health disorders under New York Law.